Launch of Centre for Philosophy of Religion

Launch of new Centre scheduled for 12th June 2010

Heythrop College is pleased to announce the launch of a centre for Philosophy of Religion which will involve research into all aspects of Philosophy of Religion. It aims to expand the subject beyond the confines of a narrow specialist discipline by re-establishing the links between religion as a set of theoretical claims and its moral, psychological and spiritual aspects, and by exploring how it is related to contemporary secular and scientific thought. It will approach philosophy of religion in a way that is sensitive to the beliefs and practices of the great religions, and encourage interaction with other branches of philosophy as well as broader interdisciplinary collaboration.

The centre aims to develop a vigorous research culture by organizing conferences, seminars, and public lectures, attracting good research students from the UK and overseas, and fostering high quality research output, individually or in collaboration, by members of the Centre and of the College’s other academic Departments. It will be directed by Fiona Ellis, and assisted by John Cottingham, Keith Ward, Gerard Hughes, Peter Vardy, and Martin Poulsom. 

The launch conference for the centre - on Religion and Naturalism - will take place at Heythrop College, June 12th, 2010. Speakers will include Keith Ward, David Papineau, Paul Snowdon, John Cottingham, and Fiona Ellis.

For further information please contact Fiona Ellis at f.ellis@heythrop.ac.uk